Clam-shell bucket.



No. 807,823. PATENTED DEC. 19, 1905, H. P. HORN.

OLAM SHELL BUCKET.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 7, 1905.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

No.807,823. PATENTEDDEG.19,1905.

, H. P. HORN.

GLAM SHELL BUCKET.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 7, 1905.

4 SHEETS-SHEET Z.

'VVEneu'weu".

No. 807,823. PATENTED DEC. 19, 1905.

H. P. HORN.

GLAM SHELL BUCKET.

APPLICATION rum) AUG. '1, 1905.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

No. 807,823. PATENTED DEC. 19, 1905. H. P. HORN.

ULAM SHELL BUCKET.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 7. 1905.

4 SHEETS "SHEET 4.

In v c: 71, 60 w UNITED sra rss HENRY P. HORN, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

CLAIVl-SHELL BUCKET.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 19, 1905.

Application filed August 7,1905. Serial No. 2728M T (LZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HENRY P. HORN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and use ful Improvement in Clam-Shell Buckets, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a clam-shell bucket in a form which, while being simple and cheap in construction, shall be very efficient in service, having a wide reachand a powerful closing action.

Another object of the invention is to devise a bucket wherein the scoops shall first take a downward course and then an inward course to effectually gather in the load.

Still another object is to arrange the bucket so that it may be operated by a single rope, whereby it may beinstalled on existing derricks which now have simply one winding drum and a cable to raise a bucket which is not self-filling.

The essential characteristics of my bucket are hereinafter more fully described, and definitely set out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the bucket when closed. Fig. 2 is a side elevation when opened. Fig. 3 is aplan of the bucket opened. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the bucket when installed with but one operatin -rope. This view shows the bucket close Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the same bucket open.

Referring to the parts by letters, A A represents two scoops. Secured within each scoop is a vertical arm a, which is made rigid with the base of the scoop and is comparatively narrow, so as not to form a material obstruction to the load. Pivoted to these arms a at b are parallel bars B B, each of which has a slot 12 in it. Pivoted to the parallel bars B B, just above the pivots b, are links C C, which extend diagonally, crossing each other intermediately, and at their upper ends carry pins D D, which extend through the slots 12. There are a pair of each of the links 0 and C, being on opposite sides of the parallel bars B B. The four links are pivoted together where they cross by the pin J. Mounted on the pin D are a pair of arms E, and mounted on the pin D are pairs of arms E. These two pairs of arms overlap at their upper ends and are connected by a pin F From the above construction it follows that if the pin F be moved upward the bars B B will be brought toward each other and the buckets closed. On the other hand, if the pin be lowered the pins D D will move downwardly and outwardly, opening the bucket. This opening and closing action is shown as accomplished by ropes. An opening-rope is secured to the pin F and then passes downwardly around a sheave K, journaled on the pin J, the rope then passing upwardly between a sheave L on the pin F and a guide-sheave N, carried by a clevis N, mounted on the pin F. In such a construction if the bucket be supported by the rope H and the other supports be loosened the bucket will descend and swing open into the position shown in Fig. 2, the ign F approaching the pin J and the pins D moving outwardly.

To give the bucket a powerful closing action, 1 provide a pair of closing-ropes P and P. The rope P is secured to the pin'D and then passes around a sheave R on the pin D and then around a sheave R on the pin D. The other rope P (shown for clearness in dotted lines in Fig. 1) is secured to the pin D and passes around the sheave R (directly behind the sheave R) and thence around the sheave R on the pin D. When these ropes are drawn upward, the pins D and D are drawn very forcibly together, closing the bucket. Suitable pairs of brackets S and S, secured to the links 0 and C, give additional bearings for the pins D and D. At the sheaves R and R these brackets are shown as having their ends bent inward at right angles to form rope guards. Similar ropeguards are provided for the sheaves R and R by bending outwardly-projecting ends 6 of two of the links E E.

In order to give the scoops the desired movement in closing which shall bring their cutting edges first downward and then inward, I connect them together by a system of links now to be described. Pivoted to the scoopsnear their inner upper corners are the links T and T, which are pivoted together at their upper ends. Pivoted to the scoo s near their upper rear ends are the links and U, which extend inwardly, crossing each other near their upper ends and being pivoted at their upper ends to the opposite links T and T, respectively. This construction is duplicated on each side of the bucket. It is shown in closed position in Fig. 1 and in open position in Fig. 2. It results in giving a wide spread to the scoops when opened and the desired travel to them in closing.

Many existing derricks and unloading apparatuses are equipped with a single winding-drum and one cable and one supportingpulley over which the cable passes, an ordinary bucket or scoop being carried by such cable. My invention is well adapted to this installation and provides a self-filling bucket in place of the former buckets filled by hand. Figs. 4 and 5 show my bucket when so installed. It differs from the installation with two ropes, heretofore described, simply in having the opening-rope H terminate in an eye H, which may hook over a support, whereby gravity will open the bucket, and having means for maintaining it spread after being opened. The catch for holding the bucket open is shown as consisting of a pawl V, pivoted to the links E and adapted to enage a shoulder b on the corresponding slotted bar B. As shown in Figs 4 and 5, this pawl is drawn toward the slotted bar by a spring 0. The pawl is thrown out of action by handle o. With such a bucket the support may consist simply of a single closing cable P extending over a pulley W and connectin' at its lower end with the two cables P and A pivoted hook Y is rovided on the derrick-arm, which is adapte to be held in path of the eye H, which may be-on a bar held against turning and connected to the closing-rope H. When the loaded bucket is raised, the eye H hooks over the point of the hook Y, whereupon a release of the pull on the cable P allows the bucket to descend sufficiently to open, discharging its load. As the bucket assumes the completely-o en position the pawl V engages the shou der b preventing the bucket closing. Then if a ull be exerted on the rope Z, connected to a ocking-lever Z, which normally holds the hook Y in active position, this locking-lever is raised out of action and the hook Y swings, allowing the bucket to drop off. It is then lowered in its open position for a new load and as it engages thematerial the o erator strikes the arm 0, swinging the paw backward and releasing the look, so that the winding in of the cable I may close the bucket and thereafter elevate it.

I claim 1. In a clam-shell bucket, the combination of a pairof scoops, closing means therefor to I which the scoops are connected, said closing means comprising a pair of bars, and mechanism for causing the same to approach or recede from each other while remaining parallel.

2. In a clam-shell bucket, the combination with scoops of a closing and supporting mechanism therefor, consisting of a pair of slotted bars, links crossing each other and pivoted at their lower ends near the lower ends of said bars, and having their upper ends connected to pins slidable in such slots.

3. In a clam-shell bucket, the combination of a pair of slotted bars, scoops pivoted to the lower ends of said bars, pivotal means connecting the scoops, crossing-links pivoted near the lower ends of the bars and at their upper ends carrying pins engaging slots in the bars, a pin connecting said links where they cross, a sheave on said pin, and mechanism for moving said pin to open the bucket.

4. In a clam-shell bucket, the combination of bars, scoops carried at the lower ends thereof, links pivoted near the lower ends of the bars and at their upper ends slidably connected with the opposite bars, additional links connected with the links first mentioned and themselves connected together, a pivotpin connecting the links first mentioned where they cross, and means for causing such pin and the pivot connecting the upper links to approach each other.

5. The combination of a pair of slotted bars, links pivoted near the lower ends of said bars and crossing each other and pivoted to ether at the crossing, pins carried by said lin is extending through the slots in said bars, a pair of upper links connected to said pins at their lower ends and pivoted together at their upper ends, a sheave on the pivot-pin where the lower links cross, and a cable secured to the pivot of the upper links and extending downward beneath said sheave and then upward.

6. In a clam-shell bucket, the combination of a pair of bars, scoops secured thereto, links pivoted near the lower ends of said bars and crossing each other and carrying near their upper ends, pins occupying slots in the opposite bars, sheaves mounted on said pins, and closing-cables extending around the sheaves.

7. The combination of a pair of slotted bars, a pair of links pivoted on opposite sides of one of the bars near its lower end, a pair of links pivoted on the opposite sides of the other bar near its lower end, said pairs of links crossing each other and being connected by a pivot-pin, pins occupying slots in said bars, said pairs of links being connected at their upper ends to said pins on opposite sides of said slots, four sheaves mounted on the projecting portions of said pins, and two cables each of which is secured at its end'near one of said pins and then pass around the sheave on the opposite pin and then around the sheave on the pin near which the end is secured.

8. In a clam-shell bucket, the combination of a pair of scoops, supporting and closin mechanism pivoted thereto in the centra plane of the scoops, and links governing the spreading of the scoops and connected to the sides thereof.

9. In a clam-shell bucket, the combination of a pair of scoops, arms rising from the base of the scoops between the sides thereof, and supporting and closing mechanism pivoted in the central plane of the scoops to said arms.

10. In a clam-shell bucket, the combination with the pair of pivoted scoops, a pair of links pivoted at their lower ends to said scoops and pivoted together at their upper ends, and a pair of additional links pivoted at their upper ends to the links first mentioned and pivoted at their lower ends to said scoops.

11. In a clam-shell bucket, the combination of a pair of scoops, a pair of links pivoted at their' lower ends to the upper inner corners of the scoops and pivoted together at their upper ends, and another pair of links pivoted at their lower ends to the rear of the scoops and pivoted at its upper end to that one of the links first mentioned which is pivoted to the opposite scoop.

12. In a clam-shell bucket, the combination of a pair of scoops, a pair of links pivoted at their lower ends to the upper inner corners of the scoops and pivoted together at their upper ends, another pair of links pivoted at their lower ends to the rear of the scoops and pivoted each at its upper end to that one of the links first mentioned which is pivoted to the opposite scoop, such link construction being duplicated on the opposite edges of the scoops, and. a closing and supporting mechanism for the scoops connected therewith between their sides.

13. In a clam-shell bucket, the combination of a pair of scoops, a system of toggle members connected therewith for opening the scoops, and a pawl carried by one of said members and ada ted to come into engagement with a shou der when the scoops are spread and prevent their return.

14. In a clam-shell bucket, the combination, with the scoops and their operating mechanism, of a closing and raising cable, an opening-cable mounted on the bucket and terminating with it, and means independent of said opening-cable for holding the bucket 0 en.

1 5. A clam-shell bucket, comprising scoops, toggle-links therefor, a closing and raising cable, and an opening-cable connected with said links and terminating in an eye movable with the bucket, combined with a support having a hook adapted to engage the eye of the opening-cable, and mechanism for holding said hook in engaging position and for releasing it.

16. In a clam-shell bucket, the combination of a pair of links crossing each other and pivoted to ether at their crossing, a pair of additional links pivoted to the upper ends of the links first mentioned and themselves pivoted together, means for forcing toward each other the two pivots mentioned, and scoops carried near the lower ends of the links first mentioned.

17. In a clam-shell bucket, the combination of a pair of lower links crossing each other and pivoted together at their crossing, a pair of up er links pivoted to the upper ends of the ower links and extending upwardly therefrom toward each other and themselves pivoted together, means for moving toward each other the pivot at the crossing and the pivot of the upper links, means for moving toward each other the two pivots connecting the upper and lower links, an scoops supported by the lower links.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

HENRY P. HORN.

Vitnesses:

ALBERT I-I. BATES, N. L. BRESNAN. 

